Hearing aid with adjustable sound inlet means



1970 E. ROSEMOND ET AL 3,491,214

EARING AID WITH ADJUSTABLE SOUND INLET MEANS Filed Jan. 12-, 1967INVENTORY u-Lmvb E. edfiemolub id/Aw f 977342 AIL-7S United StatesPatent M 3,491,214 HEARING AID WITH ADJUSTABLE SOUND INLET MEANS LelandE. Rosemond, Scarborough, and Kaare Hellekjaer,

Tarrytown, N.Y., assignors to Otarion Electronics, Inc.,

Ossining, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Jan. 12, 1967, Ser. No.608,831 Int. Cl. H04r 25/00 U.S. Cl. 179107 Claims ABSTRACT .OF THEDISCLOSURE This invention relates to a hearing aid and more particularlyto a self-contained, behind the ear type hearing aid wherein thedirection of the sound inlet opening may be changed by the wearer so asto improve his hearing ability while eliminating unwanted or unnecessarynoises.

In hearing aids which are supported on the external ear, the sound inletopenings have normally been placed behind the ear, with the result thatthe wearer received sounds preferentially from the rear of his head. Anexample of such an aid is disclosed in Erickson U.S. Patent No.2,882,348. Such arrangements were not completely satisfactory howeverbecause, while sound quality from behind the head was adequate, thereception of sounds from in front of the head was handicapped. Sincehuman beings normally look toward the general direction of the source ofa sound to which they are listening, such as a person speaking, thediminution of ability to satisfactorily hear such sounds proved annoyingto the listeners as well as the speakers.

As one suggestion for correcting this deficiency, it was proposed toplace the sound inlet opening in front of the ear so that there would bedirect response to sounds which emanated from in front of the wearer.Devices for performing this function are disclosed in Vickerson U.S.Patent No. 3,045,073 and Guttner et al. U.S. Patent No. 3,209,080.Although devices such as these did provide a significant improvement, itwas soon discovered that the concept of capturing the sound from forwardof the hearing aid wearer presented a still new set of problems.

In prior hearing aids in which the sound inlet opening is forward of thewearers ear, flow of air past the ear causes a whistling in themicrophone of the aid which brings considerable discomfort to thewearer. Further, while the wavelength of sound is such as to causeconsiderable diffusion, it is desirable to simulate the directionalcharacteristics of the ear to as great an extent z'i'sis feasible.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a hearing aidwhich provides a directional response which approximates that of the earwhile at the same time permitting attenuation of unwanted affects.

It is also an object to provide a hearing aid which can be worn oneither ear of the wearer while producing an equal quality of soundregardless of the ear upon which it is worn.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means by which thehearing aid wearer may use the aid in comfort even when moving at arelative velocity to adjacent air.

It is an object hereof to provide a means for elimiating wind whistlewhen air is moving past the hearing aid user at a relatively high speed,such as when riding in an open car.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved hearing aid inwhich the wearer may change the acoustic quality and frequency responseby a mechanical 3,491,214 Patented Jan. 20, 1970 means which may bemanually adjusted to his preference,

It is a further object of this invention that such means may also assistin regulating volume.

These and further objects and advantages of the invention will becomeobvious upon reference to the following specification, claims anddrawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of theinvention, partially in section, showing the relationships of the partsin the appaartus;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded view of the sound inlet mechanism showing thedetails of the parts;

FIGURE 3 is a view of the hearing aid carrier which is utilized in thisembodiment of the invention; and

FIGURE 4 shows a modification of one member of the sound inletmechainsm.

Referring now to the details of the drawings, a hearing aid constructedaccording to the invention is shown generally at 11 in FIGURE 1, havinga case 13 with an openable battery compartment 15, an on-oif switch 17,and a volume control 19. The case 13 contains the usual microphone,amplifier, battery, and receiver, and may be opened for access to suchcomponents by means of screws 21. A carrier 23, which holds the aid onthe ear of the wearer, is attached to the case 13 by means to bedescribed later. The carrier is molded to have a suitable connectionjoint 25 for attachment of a tube and earpiece (not shown). Sound istransmitted to the earpiece through sound channel 27 in carrier 23.Sound channel 27 receives sound transmissions from a sound tube 29 whichis inserted into the channel and extends through the case 13 from areceiver (not shown).

As shown in FIGURE 3, carrier 23 has a second channel 31 extendingthrough a portion thereof which holds the sound inlet apparatus.

Referring again to FIGURES l and 2, a microphone 33 is disposed in thecase 13 at a point near the mating surface of the case and carrier 23. Asection of tubing 35 connects the microphone with an inner sound inlettube 39 which carries integral flanges 37 and 41 thereon. Tubing 35 ismade of a highly flexible material, such as rubber, so as to avoidmechanical coupling of the microphone to the main structure or to othercomponents.

The flanges 37 and 41 on the inner sound inlet tube 39 mate withsimilarly shaped receptive openings in the inner surfaces of the case 13so as to hold tube 39 in a fixed position therein. A short extension 43of tube 39 fits into channel 31 in carrier 23 at the point where thecarrier 23 and case 13 meet. The free end of extension 43 extends intothe channel up to the point of a small constriction in the channel whichis shown in FIGURE 3.

An outer sound inlet tube 49 is inserted into the outer end of channel31. The tube 49 has a reduced portion 47 with a threaded end 45 whichextends into extension 43 and mates with an internal thread therein. Thethreaded end 45 and the reduced portion 47 easily pass through theconstriction in channel 31 allowing the larger section of tube 49 toabut the constriction. Thus, when means 43 and 45 are threadably mated,the carrier 23 is firmly held against case 13. If desired, a small slotor kerf may be manufactured in the free end of tube 49 to facilitate themating of extension 43 and the threads 45.

According to the invention, a cap or closure member 51 is installed inthe outer end of channel 31 so as to fit over the free end of the outersound inlet tube 49. The cap 51 is provided with a diametral sound inletopening 53 which is outboard of the free end of tube 49 when the cap isinserted into channel 31.

In normal usage, the hearing aid is placed with the carrier 23 over theear of the wearer with a tube and earpiece (not shown) connected tosound channel 27 in carrier 23 and in place to deliver sound to the earcanal.

The sound inlet opening 53 in the cap 51 is then adjusted or positionedto open on the side of the carrier away from the head and with the axisof the opening parallel to the axis of the ear canal :but in front ofthe ear, soas to enable the wearer to hear best the sounds whichoriginate from in front of and beside him, thereby affording a closeduplication of normal hearing.

It is a feature of the invention that the cap 51 may be rotated so as tochange the axis of opening 53 manually .or by inserting a suitablepointed tool into the opening and guiding the cap to a new position.Thus, by rotating the cap 180 degrees, the hearing aid may be worn withthe same quality of sound reception on the other ear. In addition, ifthe wearer desires to prevent a rapidly moving air flow from causing awhistling in hishearing air, he may guide opening 53 to a positionadjacent to rather than away from his head. This allows a high qualityof sound reception, while at the same time eliminating the whistle. Upondecrease in air speed, suchas in the stopping of an open car, the wearercan then quickly and easily return the opening 53 to its normalposition.

In the device described, it is a still further feature of the inventionthat it is possible to vary the acoustic quality and volume of thehearing aid to suit the needs of the user by adjusting the size of thesound inlet opening 53. An embodiment of the invention capable ofconveniently accomplishing this is shown in FIGURE 4. Referring to thatfigure, a modification of the outer sound inlet tube is shown having anelongated portion 55 with a reduced portion 47 and a threaded portion45. On the free end of the sound inlet tube 55, three apertures 57,

' 59 and 61 are shown. When the cap 51 is placed over the tube 55, itmay be so placed that the opening 53 is outboard of the free end of thetube 55 or it may be guided so as to cooperate in the passage of soundto the microphone through a selected one of the apertures 57, 59 or 61which are preferably of various sizes. The selection of the aperture andthe concentricity or degree of concentricity of opening 53 therewithdepends upon the desires of thewearer with respect to acoustic qualitydesired and the volume transmitted to the microphone.

From the foregoing, it will be evident that this invention providesunique sound perception arrangement in a hearing aid which provides anoptional quality of sound reception. As should befurther evident, thesound reception is simply and readily adjusted to suit the specificneeds and desires of the wearer. The described illustration of thehearing aid apparatus is susceptible to various modifications andchanges within the spirit of the invention, including, of course, thoseof dimensioning, shape, and mechanical equivalents and expedients.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention beingindicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription, and all changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Unite States Letters Patentis:

1. A hearing aid including a battery, receiver, amplifier and microphonemeans therefor, sound conducting means connected to said microphonemeans, and sound inlet means having at least one sound admittingaperture adjustable in position to face in any of a selected pluralityof directions, said sound conducting means being connected to said soundinlet means for transmission of sound from said aperture to saidmicrophone means.

2. A hearing aid as set out in claim 1 wherein said sound conductingmeans comprises hollow conduit means and wherein said aperture isprovided in a closure member mounted on the end of said conduit means.

3. A hearing aid as set out in claim 2 wherein said closure membercomprises a cylindrical cap mounted for rotation about its axis, saidaperture :being formed in the cylindrical wall of said cap wherebyrotation of said cap causes the direction of said aperture to change.

4. A hearing aid as set out in claim 3 wherein the aperture in said capis selectively adjustable into communication with a plurality ofapertures associated with said conduit means.

5. A hearing aid as set out in claim 2 wherein said amplifier andmicrophone means are mounted in a case, -a carrier mounted on said casefor holding said case behind the ear of a wearer of said hearing aid,said conduit means extending through said carrier and said sound inletmeans being mounted for movement thereon, said carrier having a soundoutlet passage connectible to the ear of the wearer.

6. A hearing aid as set out in claim 5 wherein said carrier is curvate,said sound outlet passage and said conduit means extending through saidcarrier being adjacent one another at the point of connection of saidcarrier to said case, said sound inlet means being mounted closer tosaid case than the terminal end of said carrier.

7. A hearing aid as set out in claim 3 wherein said conduit meanscontains a plurality of apertures in its wall and the aperture in saidcap is rotatable into concentric and eccentric relationships therewith.

8. In a hearing aid, a case to hold amplification circuitry, a carrierattached to said case for holding said case behind the ear of a wearerof said hearing aid, sound inlet means in said carrier for capturing andtransmitting sound to said amplification circuitry, and means forrotating the axis of said sound inlet means from one side of saidcarrier to the opposite side of said carrier.

9. A hearing aid as set out in claim 8 wherein said sound inlet meansincludes a passage in said carrier, conduit means extending through saidpassage into said case, and a cylindrical cap mounted for rotation onsaid conduit means and partially enclosed in said carrier, said caphaving an aperture in its cylindrical wall adjustable by rotating saidcylindrical cap on its axis, said carrier including a sound outletpassage.

10. A hearing aid as set out in claim 9 wherein said conduit meanscontains a plurality of openings selectively alignable with the aperturein said cap.

References Cited v UNITED STATES PATENTS 622,328 4/1899 Collins 1791072,166,991 7/1939 Guanella 179107 2,939,922 6/1960 Gorike 17912l3,201,528 8/1965 Johanson 179-107 KATHLEEN H. CLAFFY, Primary ExaminerA. A. MCGILL, Assistant Examiner

